Bird house



BIRD HCUSE Filed sent. 2, 1922 Patented May 27, 1924,

UNITED STATES 'IBERTRAM e. FOSTER, or wasrunerolvfn srarcr or COLUMBIA.

Bran HOUSE.

Application filed September 2, 1922. Serial No. 585,943. I

birds are'apt to alight thereon and dispute ownership. On the other hand with other birds it is desirable that alighting supports be provided. It is one of the objects 'of'the present-invention to provide a structure thatv maybe reversed and thereby a landing platform provided or elimihated, as desired, the element constituting suchplatform in one case constituting an overhangingroof or eaves when the house is reversed. Another and very important object is to provide a very simple and practical structure that can be cheaply manufactured, comprises parts readily obtainable and easily assembled, and-which can be quickly dismembered for cleaning and as quickly reassembled.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1' isa perspective view of'the preferred embodiment of the invention when arranged for birds not requiring an alighting support,

Figure 2 is a perspective viewshowing the house reversed and providing a landing platform, v v

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the retaining spring. 7

In the embodiment disclosed a hollow body is employed of generally spherical shape and truncated. Preferably it is a single piece and a cocoanut shellcan' be conveniently employed. The body is designated 5, and is provided in one side with an entrance'and exit opening 6. Thetruncated end is formed by cutting off one end, forming an opening 7 and providing a flat circular bearing edge 8.

A closure plate 9 extends over the opening 7' and rests against the edge 8. The body is secured to this plate, preferabl'yby means of a cross bar 10 bridging the opening and having its ends bearing 'against the inner faces of the convergent wallsof the body. This cross bar is preferably of spring metal, and, passing through the central portion thereof is aclamping boltyll that passes through. the plate9a'andhas a knob'nut 12- threaded on its outer end.

The bar 10 is preferably-a leaf-springnormally flat; and therefore when. the bolt is drawn tight this bar will be bowed,.insuring a tight clamping action and conforming tothe 'individualcontour of the body. The

plate 9 is secured atits rear endto a right P E T ICE i angularly disposed braoket'plate 13 which extends behind the body and preferablyfiis abutted against by said body.;' This'pla-te may have suitable openings for the reception of screws 14:,by'means'of-which'the device can be secured to a tree, pillar, wall or other support.

' With this construction if the house is to be used for birds: that do not need a'landing platform, the bracket is secured with the closure plate uppermost as shown in Figure 1. When so arranged the plate 9 extends over the body and constitutesa roof therefor. -When a landing platform is desired the structure is mounted in reversed relation or as: shown in Figure 2.- Inasmuch as the front-end ofthe closure plate projects beyond the body, it will be.

noted that the-projecting portion constitutes a platform on whichthe birds may alight. Obviously the'body can be quicklyuafiixed to-and detached from the-support, and when detached the interior can -be readily cleansed; Another advantage for the struc-' ture disclosed is that'it permits the body to be turned with thefbolt 11 as an axis, so

that the entrance and exit opening 6 can be differently positioned with respect to the bracket. The plates 9, and 13 may beduplicates and thus cheaply constructed in' quantities. Morover when the body is in underhung or depending relation its bearing against the fastening or bracket plate 13 serves to bracei-t and the'supportingplate 9.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of'the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art,

without further desoriptionand it will be the device and closure for understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to 'without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bird house comprising a hollow body having an opening in one end and an entrance and exit opening in one side, the walls converging to the end opening, a closure for the'end opening, retaining means for the closure bearing against the inner faces of'the converging walls, and an adjustable connection between the closure and retaining means for clamping the closure firmly and fixedly to the body.

' 2. A bird house comprising a hollow body having an opening in one end, and an entrance an'dexit opening in one side, the walls converging to the end opening, a closure for the end opening, aretaining device in the body bridging the end'opening and'resting against the: inner faces of the converging walls, and a detachable connection between clamping the latter fixedly to the body.

Abird house comprising a hollow body having an opening in one end, and an entrance and exit opening in one side, the walls converging to the end opening, a closure for the end opening, a bendable retaining strip in the body bridging the end opening and resting against the inner faces of the converging walls, and a detachable connection between the device and closure for drawing the two towards each other and clamping the'closure firmly to the body.

4. A bird house comprising a hollow body having'an opening in one end and an entrance and exit opening'in one side, the walls converging to the end opening, a closure-for the 'end opening, retaining means for the closure connected thereto through the opening and bearing against the 'inner' faces'of the converging walls, and means for mounting the closure on a support said closurether'eby constituting holding means forthe body.

5., A bird house comprising a hollow body having an opening'inone end'and an en trance and exit opening in one side, the

walls converging to the end opening, a closure for the end opening, retaining means for the closure connected thereto through the opening and-bearing against the inner faces of the converging walls, and a bracket piece secured to the rear side of the closure and constituting means for mounting the house on asupport. I 1

6. A bird housecomprising a hollow body having; an opening in one end and entrance and exit opening in one side, the walls converging to the end opening, a closure for the end opening, retaining means 7 side, a plate secured to one end of the body and projecting beyond the side having the opening, and means for mounting the plate on a support in either'of reversed positions whereby said plate will cit-her constitute a .roof for the body and the latterfwill underhang the same or the projecting portion will constitute a platform beneath the entrance and exit opening I 8. A bird house comprising a hollow body having an entrance and exit opening in one side, a platesecured to one end of the body and projecting beyond the side having the opening, and a bracket plate secured; to the rear end of said first plate and extending alongside the rearof the body, said structure being reversible whereby said first plate will either constitute a roof for the body and the latter will underhang the same or the projecting portion will constitute a platform beneath the entrance a'nd'exit'opening.

9. A bird house comprising a single piece truncated generally spherical body having its truncated endbpen and also having an entrance and exitdoorway in one side, a closure detachably secured to the body over the-truncated open end and means connected to the closure for supporting the body.

10. A bird house comprising a' single piece truncated generally spherical body'having its truncated end open and also having an entrance and exit doorway 'in one side, a closure plate'extending across the truncated end, means connected to said plate, extending through the opening and overlapping the adjacent walls for securing the plate-in place, and means connected to theplate for mounting'the same and the body on a' sup- 11. A bird house comprising "a -cocoanut shell having-an entrance and exit opening in one side and'having one end portion cut away to provide an end opening, and a closure fixedly secured across said opening and extending outwardly beyond the shell to position the entrance and exit opening With relation to said support.

18. A bird house body comprising a cocoannt shell having an entrance and exit opening in one side and having one end cut away to provide an end opening, a support for the body including a closure and supporting plate extending across the end opening, and a clamping device engaging the inner side of the shell and engaged with the plate through the opening, said device permitting the shell to be differently positioned on the plate With the entrance and exit opening in different relations With respect to the support. I

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature. v

BERTRAM G. FOSTER. 

